Australian Football League, ASADA Not Told Of Paper Published On Essendon Drug Scandal

An Australian Football League official who oversaw the investigation into Essendon’s supplement regime "published a research paper detailing aspects of the case" without informing AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou or the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. ASADA on Wednesday "moved to distance itself from the research paper," which was co-authored by AFL Integrity Manager Brett Clothier and AFL Medical Officer Peter Harcourt and published this month in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Although ASADA has completed its investigation into Essendon’s use of supplements throughout the '12 season, "the material it gathered remains subject to statutory confidentiality provisions." An ASADA spokesperson said, “ASADA did not approve, nor have any other involvement in, the paper authored by representatives of the (AFL)" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/27). In Melbourne, Samantha Lane wrote Essendon Chair Paul Little has restated his view that it is unlikely ASADA "will issue infraction notices after investigating the Bombers." While Little said that he had no new information, "he was always of the view that no charges would be laid." Little: ''I would say, however, that I've developed, I think, a reasonably close relationship with the AFL and I think I can confidently say we're both of that opinion" (THE AGE, 3/26).

ANGER MANAGEMENT: Also in Melbourne, Caroline Wilson wrote Essendon’s senior players have asked suspended coach James Hird "to put aside his personal angst and allow the Bombers to focus on the 2014 season." It is understood that "the message was communicated to Hird in recent days via the leadership group and club captain Jobe Watson." While Watson and the senior players stressed that "they remained fully supportive of Hird returning to coach next season," it was pointed out that recent outbursts such as those from his wife, Tania Hird, could prove detrimental to the team’s fortunes (THE AGE, 3/26).